Embracing Fall

As I walked on trails carpeted in golden pine needles and crunchy acorns this morning, I realized that I may actually like fall after all! Summer has always been my favorite yet in this season of my life I have acquired a new respect and admiration for Fall. Today, I see fall as a good reflection of difficult moments in our lives.

Much like Mother Nature, we too go through seasons in our lives. Winter could look like periods in which we find ourselves sad, heartbroken, lonely, sick, or struggling to stay positive. Spring could look like moments where hope is high, where we find excitement in new beginnigs, where we can see the potential of good things to come. Summer would be moments in our lives where we see growth, where we experience an abundance of joyful moments, and we may feel secure and safe. Fall, can be represented by life transitions, change, hardship, failure, or it can also be seen as the season during which we get to see the success of our growth.

Spring and summer can feel like the most comfortable of seasons in our lives since it’s in these moments that we may feel the most encouraged by our growth, feel full of motivation, and experience joyful moments with ease; like a child basking in the sun after a nice refreshing swim. When we experience difficult moments in life we may be eager to quickly find the way out of that fall or winter season; so quick that we miss the beauty and the purpose of these seasons in our lives. Just like in nature, fall may be chilly and dry but it is during this time we get to harvest the fruits of our labor.

Being in a fall season of life can be a lot of emotional work. It can become overwhelming at times making it feel more like winter. When you are confronted with these moments, consider pausing. Consider seeking help, delegating obligations when able, making space for self care, pause, and take a deep breath… or a few. Look for the beauty, much of it will be right inside YOU and if you have trouble finding it reach out. Just as you would bundle up, sit by the fire, and pour yourself a nice hot cup of coffee on a chilly night.

You are not alone. Even in the coldest of winters there are shimmers of light all around us.